Wednesday, January 30, 2008

MORNING COMMITTEES

HB133, an omnibus Health System Reform bill, will be discussed this morning in HOUSE BUSINESS AND LABOR. It's a strategic plan that asks health insurance companies for new products and compatible electronic applications and calls for an income tax credit for health insurance premiums. The departments of Insurance, Health, and Workforce Services plus the Governor's Office of Economic Development and the legislature's Business and Labor Interim Committee will all work together on the plan. By next November they would suggest specific legislation to implement it. To aid the planning, $1.1 million is requested this year to collect, analyze and distribute health care cost and quality data and to standardize the electronic exchange of clinical health information. Also on the agenda is HB114, a bill to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 or the federal minimum wage, which ever is higher, and adjust it annually for inflation.

The HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE will consider HB266, which would allow schools to spend $300,000 for International Baccalaureate accelerated learning programs. HB287 would revoke the license of a teacher who committed a sexual offense against a minor or engaged in sexually explicit behavior with a student.

SENATE NATURAL RESOURCES, AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT will debate SB164. It prohibits hunters from using a computer or other device when hunting an animal to remotely aim or discharge a weapon.

AT NOON IN THE ROTUNDA
Environmental groups will present the "Real McCoy" Renewable Energy Citizen Lobby Day and Press Conference. They want to build support for a bill by Senator Scott McCoy that would require 25% of Utah electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025, and promises renewable energy development in rural Utah.

This AFTERNOON

APPROPRIATIONS SUBCOMMITTEES are meeting. By the end of this week legislators who sponsor a bill that will cost new money must get the bill approved by an Appropriations Subcommittee. Today the Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations Subcommittee will consider HB22, Expedited Parent-Time Enforcement, which expands to the whole state a pilot mediation program for divorced parents who disagree about how much time a child should spend with each parent. The expansion will cost an extra $275,500 to enforce.

For more information, visit your legislature - in person or online at www.le.utah.gov/

WHAT HAPPENED YESTERDAY

Two immigration bills were in committee yesterday. HB241 passed the House Education Committee with Republicans voting for and Democrats voting against. It repeals the current exemption from non-resident tuition for undocumented students who enter institutions of higher education after May 1. To be eligible for this exemption, students must have attended high school for three or more years in Utah and graduated or received the equivalent of a high school diploma. Since these students pay a lower tuition rate than out of state students, you might say schools are "losing" tuition money, although according to the Salt Lake Tribune there are only 280 such students statewide. However, the fiscal note on the bill says $350,000, growing to $500,000 by 2010, would be lost in tuition if the bill passes, probably because fewer students could afford to attend at the higher rate. Opponents of the tuition break say such benefits draw more illegal immigrants. And there's no point in educating them for better paying jobs; if they're not legal they won't qualify for the jobs anyhow.

The League observed the House Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice Committee yesterday, where another "immigration" bill was discussed, HB239 sponsored by Rep. Donnelson. His argument in support of the bill, which would repeal driver's privilege cards, alleged that they somehow promote terrorism, criminal activity, money laundering, gang membership and sex offenses, and would result in Utah's being flooded by illegal aliens. Salt Lake County Assessor Lee Gardner spoke against the bill, arguing that the cards promote safe driving because holders must pass a driving test and purchase automobile insurance. A committee member noted that the cards are required for legal aliens as well as illegal aliens, and wondered what steps were included to ensure that legal aliens could retain driving privileges. The sponsor was apparently unaware of this issue. Discussion was tabled until next week so he could look into the problem.

Yesterday a substitute version of HB104, which appropriates $500,000 to plan and build urban trails, passed House Natural Resources. The difference between the two versions was that the original bill had the state Department of Natural Resources do the planning. But the substitute has DNR give grants to local governments and let them do the planning, which sounds like a better idea. The committee also authorized a fishing group to temporarily change a water right for instream flow to protect trout habitat (HB117).

Sandy Peck
League of Women Voters